The latest brouhaha over Washington Redskins’ offensive lineman Trent Williams’ purported use of the infamous N-word in lashing out at umpire Roy Eillison (who, like Williams, is black) during a game with the Philadelphia Eagles is just another in an endless stream of incidents that keep this accident-of-history colloquialism alive and well.

A visitor from another galaxy might be puzzled as to why Americans are so obsessed with a seemingly simple word. But the N-word has an ugly history, a history that can be traced to the Latin word “niger,” meaning black. Certainly nothing ugly in that, right? From there it evolved into the word negro, still a seemingly harmless word.

But the evolution from there is not so harmless. It is generally believed that “negro” evolved into the N-word as a result of the drawl of white Southerners, which caused them to mispronounce it. That’s where the harmlessness ended, as the word became attached to a race of people who were subjected to humiliation and slavery.

Even so, one would have thought that the N-word would have faded into the marred pages of human history by now, given that slavery in the United States was abolished nearly 150 years ago. So why is the word talked about more today than ever?

I believe the reason it is so difficult for many people to let go of the N-word is that it has taken on a life of its own. The problem isn’t racism. Except for an unknown but clearly very small percentage of the population, America moved beyond racism decades ago. Even the Jim Crow laws so ferociously promoted and protected by white Southern Democrats are but a distant, unpleasant memory.

Nevertheless, there is still a large number of nefarious people who keep the N-word alive because they have found, to their delight, that they can profit handsomely by nurturing the idea that racism is alive and well in America. Racism and, more specifically, the N-word are glorified by hip-hop thugs, relentlessly pushed to the forefront by race hustlers in their quest for ever more power and money, and shamelessly invoked by left-wing politicians as one of an array of tools to help them stay in office.

The pretension of the latter two groups is that they are protectors of black people who continue to be victimized by millions of whites who actually want them to fail. And the safe haven they offer these purported victims is the federal government’s welfare plantation.

Ironically, the election of America’s first (half) black president gave new life to the false claims of racism in America, which is a bit nutty considering that his election was made possible by the votes of white Americans. But let me make it clear that I don’t for a second believe Barack Obama himself is particularly hung up on race, which is probably why blacks have ended up being so much worse off since his rise to power.

No, Obama’s focus is strictly on ideology. He is a committed ideologue who sincerely believes that redistribution of wealth is good for America. By and large, it’s Obama’s passionate followers who continually raise the issue of race, promoting the notion that any resistance to his socialist policies are a result of white people’s hatred for him because of his color.

Again, given the fact that he was elected not once, but twice, by a white-majority population, it’s an absurd claim, but they continue to use it for one reason and one reason only: It works!

So, even though millions of people of all colors are experiencing N-word fatigue, it is not likely to go away anytime soon. There is far too much profit in the exploitation of white guilt for that to happen.

Personally, I don’t give the N-word special significance, because what it really gets down to is not race, but uncivilized behavior. And uncivilized behavior includes vulgar and pejorative language.

The N-word is vulgar. So is the F-word, the C-word, and a whole bunch of other words that come out of the mouths of those who lack dignity and couth. Martin Bashir’s recent vulgar remarks about Sarah Palin is a classic example of this.

Believe me, I’m not naïve. I realize that people aren’t perfect, so an occasional slip is understandable. I recall negotiating a business deal some years back with a doctor who happened to live in Kentucky, and at one point during our phone conversation, while talking price, he said to me, “Look, I don’t want you to think I’m trying to Jew you down, but …” This was a doctor talking! I just shook my head and let it pass.

I gave up policing other people’s words and actions decades ago. Instead, I prefer to abide by the HIP philosophy — humor, ignore, part ways. Unfortunately, there are millions of people — absolute moralists — who do want to police the words and actions of others, and they cause a lot of problems in the process.

The truth is that those who profit from racism do not want the N-word to die. To their delight, they have found that because millions of Americans (both black and white) have no clue that they are being played for fools, the so-called race card can be dealt again and again with predictable results.

One last point: For a long time now, the big debate over the N-word has been whether whites should be “allowed” to use it since so many blacks mouth it without hesitation. The answer is: of course! A person who is truly free should be allowed to use any words he so desires. It’s called free speech.

An American should also be free to use the F-word, the C-word, and words like kike, spic, and dago. But the more important question is, what kind of person would want to use anyof these words? Answer: The kind of person I go out of my way to avoid — and I hope you do, as well.

Let’s face it, you can’t fundamentally transform a cesspool society into a civilized culture overnight, but you do have the power of choice when it comes to making yourself a more civilized person — and guiding your children in the same direction. If each of us concentrated on that single objective, perhaps someday — far down the road — the tide would begin to turn in the direction of a more enlightened and civilized America.

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+Robert Ringer is an American icon whose unique insights into life have helped millions of readers worldwide. He is also the author of two New York Times #1 bestselling books, both of which have been listed by The New York Times among the 15 best-selling motivational books of all time.

46 responses to “The N-Word Lives On”

This is a good call to action for a more civilized society, but for the most part, is fallng on deaf ears in America. I go to Charleston, SC from time to time to experience one of the more civilized places in the US, but even there the nonstop spew of CNN et al can be heard in so many establishments. Your HIP protocol does seem to be a great alternative (I find I institute the 3rd part all the time, but not so good with the other 2 always). At this time of year it is even more important to read this message, as nothing is more vulgar than the typical Christmas shopping experience, which I now sadly avoid by just giving money/gift cards (ordered online). Maybe I can escape to a small New England village to find respite, but I think your previous article about New Zealand is a more likely place to find real civilized behavior. Thanks for the read, and a very Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones!

Robert you do make some excellent points. However, it should be pointed out that the term black was chosen for a people that for the most part are brown. You lack understanding of the hip hop culture and they are not using the "N-Word" they are in many cases using the term "Nicka" but rather than educate you about something you know nothing about, I'll let you continue to write to an audience that is trapped within a glass bubble and agrees with your information, even though tainted with falsehoods.

It's funny how "Your People" can kill black people, hang them from trees, steal the Indian's land, break every treaty known to mankind, tell others throughout the world to not do what they themselves are doing (e.g., harbor or manufacture Weapons of Mass Destruction) and yet elevate their status to Gods and Judges of the entire world.

The reason people of color use the N-Word is because white people have beat, punished, brainwashed, executed, segregated, unjustly treated and inhumanely performed the largest genocide in the history of mankind, while mentally programming and burning negative verbage into the brains of untold tens of millions of people that deserved better.

Let's be real, who came up with the term "Red Man"… "Wet Backs" …"N-Word" "Chink" and many others One guess and he calls himself Caucasian…? Who created racism? The truth is the white man has shown through his own actions that he is the most racist creature on earth! Above reproach…How many times do white men complain about entitlement programs, when history proves that themselves reaped from the largest entitlement program on earth, better known as the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade…Welfare hasn't been here near as long as slavery and when will your people pay back all that they have stolen? …All the families who lost fathers…men hung from trees simply because they wanted freedom! Indians slaughtered for defending their own land and then painted as savages… Your vision is blurry when it comes to recognizing things from multiple perspectives…

You don't kidnap, enslave and hold hostage millions of people, stop them from reading and writing for more than 300 years and then expect them to magically catch up to those people who created the system that financially, mentally and spiritually tore them down.

You can never truly know the reality that people of color have had to live through in this country! Visit a Native American Reservation, live for a while in a Ghetto and you'll better appreciate why things are they way the are, but you'll still not truly know! The truth is the W-word man made it this way…How did the so called black man (although not black) learn English in the first place? If you say foul language in front of baby as it learns to speak, it will repeat what it has heard. Everyone is conditioned through time and circumstances.

Absolutely sickening!!!

What if everything was reversed and all but one president was a Negro…what if your people suffered the inhumane beast-like conditions that the Negro has suffered… what if almost all teachers, police, judges, actors, biblical art and all you've experience was from the so-called black people?

You know your life would NOT be the same as it is now… You are a moral man, but that does not in any way mean that you can't grow in your level of perception and understanding.

You start with the moniker "Brown Man" ( a racist tag if I have ever seen one) and then proceed to explain how whites are the racists? LMAO

I am sure that you resent the self-imposed slavery you experience today – but that is your choice. You can choose to live this way and b;lame the past…or you can choose to accept personal responsibility and do something about it.

There is always choice, even when one is much harder than the other.

Unfortunately you have taken the easy route and abdicated responsibility for your own life, for who you are and for what the future holds for you. Believe me, you can blame the ills that have befallen "your people" on anyone or anything from the past…but I assure you, nobody from the past is coming back to lead you into the future. That is all up to you.

I wish you good luck in your search to find resolution…perhaps you should look inside before blaming others. Change starts with you…not with dead people.

Thanks for your well-thought-out input. I agree with much of what you say, but most of your assumptions are off base. No time to comment on all of them, but I'll offer a few of my own comments here

1. People who engaged in slavery were not, and are not, "my people." I am an individual, responsible for only my own actions. I have zero guilt for the actions of others, though I may find them to be contemptible.

2. I have no interest in learning anything about the so-called hip-hop culture, which I find repugnant, and that has nothing to do with race.

3. I agree that using the word "black" to describe people who are brown (including my wife!) is a misnomer, but I do sometimes use it because it's what people (including brown people) seem to relate to.

4. No civilized person condones the kidnapping (done mostly by "black" Africans, by the way) and enslavement of millions of people. Nor do they condone the killing of millions of people of color by a long list of ruthless dictators like Idi Amin, Pol Pot, Mao Zedung, and Francois Duvalier.

5. Finally, I definitely agree with you that I have a lot of room to grow when it comes to my perception of the world around me and my understanding of life. And that's a project I am always looking forward to.

I understand the depth of your anger, but if I were your friend, I would advise you to conquer it. THAT will do more than anything else to make you truly free. I strongly suggest that you read one of Dr. Ben Carson's book "America the Beautiful." I've interviewed him twice, and I can tell you that even though he started out in abject poverty, he doesn't have an angry bone in his body.

Thanks Robert…I should not have used the collective statement "your people" you are an individual and I agree we are all responsible for our own individual actions.

There is no anger, just wanted to bring forth a different perspective and create a dialogue. Mission accomplished! As for #4, very untrue…over 90% of the people referred to as African American are the result of the kidnapping and American literature minimizes the wicked actions of its past.

I'm quite familiar with "America the Beautiful" and Dr. Ben Carson… but thanks for the suggestion. You have made some suggestions based upon assumptions. So I suggest you read Charles Eastman's "The Soul of the Indian (Native American).

Saying that my light skin color makes me an oppressor, and that your brown skin makes you a victim of my oppression, is absurd. It's much like vilifying all men because some are wife-beaters; isn't it? Rational people don't buy into the victimhood mentality that you espouse. Spewing vitriol toward all light-skinned people is a way of making excuses for persons of darker coloration who have accomplished little in their lives; however, how does one, like yourself, explain the tens of millions of darker-skinned persons in this country alone who are accomplished and prosperous. Also, let us consider, with due reverence, the hundreds of thousands of light-skinned men and women who have toiled, and given their lives, so that all persons, regardless of likeness or lack thereof, might enjoy rights as enumerated in our constitution. Do you regard them as oppressors because of their skin coloration? Are you somehow a victim in spite of their sacrifice? Absurd, indeed.

You show a deliberate (?) disregard for the facts. People of color exhibit and have historically exhibited the same, poor treatment of people of the same color as do people of different colors. Color is not the issue, people are. Until we accept that we are all, as humans, inherently flawed, we'll never see social progress. Everyone seems to have a need to feel better on the back of others….color independent. And it's not just color. It's religion, nationality and other differences. Until we appreciate that genetically we are all more alike than different and accept each others' differences, we're destined to abuse one another.
Maybe BigPharma will make a pill for our human disease?

You illustrate his points remarkably well. Slavery ended in this country over 150 years ago, but you are still wearing (mental) chains that you should have struck off. Whatever ill has happened, whether to your ancestors or you personally, is in the past. Live there if you want , but you will find it sad, lonely and of cold comfort.
What effort have you put into making yourself the best that you can be in whatever field you want to compete in? Do you expect special consideration because of what your ancestors suffered?
By the way, white people are enslaved TODAY in some places; there are others, like the Christians in Sudan, who are routinely kidnapped and sold to Arabs now. Shall all white people take up the slavery burden, and declare all brown people slavemasters and beneficiaries of slavery due to the actions of a backward few?
Go back and learn history as it occurred, not as your entitlement-tinted glasses present it; we will welcome you to the community of the learned when you understand it as a HUMAN, not as a "brown man".

My people were not slaves. As usual you are a high-minded know it all American! People from India are treated like terrorist at your airports, black people are treated like scum, orientals ridiculed and made fun of because of their differences and the only people who are treated decently (in general) are white people. One only has to come to America to see just what people have a color for every nationality on earth.

Take your brain-washed Uncle Sam ass to real schooling… Your American History is not the history that every other country tells. Why do so many other countries have it more accurately depicted, while the political powers and oppressors of the American people have minimized their wicked acts?

I don't feel entitled and do quite well as a citizen of the world. I doubt that most of us born in India would say we feel entitled, when we work much harder than you lazy Americans. The largest entitement in history was the stealing of the Native American's land and the enslavement of the West Africans. No American with slave-owning ancestors should talk about others feeling entitled.

My opinion of the current occupant of the White House has nothing to do with skin color, but rather with the content (or lack thereof) of his character. As for America's first (half) black president, if his paternal parentage is to be believed (many suspect it's inaccurate), Obama Sr. is half Arab, making Jr. only one-quarter black, and one-quarter dark-skinned Arab and half white.

I find it revolting that millions of decent or potentially very decent black folks are trapped by race hustlers who profit from keeping them victims and lying, kniving politicians who use them to gain personal power over them and the rest of society. It's time to scrap the public education system and apply the principles of free enterprise to education with accountability for results outside of the protective corruption of teachers unions and other organized-labor organizations.

Only a massive effort can fix the cultural abyss through education that is not available under the protection of Obama-style fix-everything-with-government "solutions" that only enrich him and his political pals.

With respect to "Brown man" I understand his perspective. As unproductive as it is he has a rationale basis for his opinion. I don't doubt that it is a disadvantage in many ways to grow up in the minority and that opportunities are never presented, or are lost due to race. But to call the whites "most racist creature on earth" is not accurate. Try living in Africa where non-whites lead by Omar Hassan al-Bashir (non white) and trough the Janjaweed (also non-whites) massacred members (non whites) in tribes such as the Massaleit and Fur tribes. hundred of thousands killed in an "extermination" campaign.

The raw fact is that the majority will always favor its kind. In small groups like companies and big groups like nations. The minority needs to work hard and make themselves useful to thrive. But in America they CAN thrive. I am a lawyer. When I go into Court and see a black Judge, black opposing lawyer do I care? No. I don't. I just see them in their role. When I go to the hospital and am seen by a black Doctor or nurse do I canre? No, I don't.

Being sucked into the role of "victim" is accepting second class status and distracts one from reaching his or her potential. As much are there are disadvantages to being black and a minority in the USA they are not insurmountable and if you buy into fighting that battle you are really being sucked into a game made for someone else's gain.

Racism in all its forms is wrong. When I said white are the most racist creatures on earth I went over the top… It appears that war, politics and statistics do have people of European descent killing more people than any other nationality on earth. Even Hitler was classified as Caucasion, so if you do your research you will see who's dropping the bombs and really using the weapons of mass destruction. Talk to some older Japanese people… The United States and Great Britian have wreaked havoc in other parts of the world and the whole story is not being told in the news!

This Brown Man knows about Africa… and it's the so-called black man that is put in the role of 2nd class in America. Not people from Abhayapuri…where the people are brown. Americans make many assumptions and are very high-minded (not all). IQs are dropping in your country…perhaps you should take notes of those with higher intelligence and the world would be better without racism and wars, don't you think?

All humans originated in Africa. As they migrated north, they encountered Neanderthals – and wiped them from the Earth.
The Bible tells us Moses led the Israelites to the promise land only to discover it was already occupied. So they killed all the Caananites – and we are told God said it was good.
The Europeans came to the Americas and discovered it was already occupied. So they killed most of the natives.
Humans have been repeating that "good deed" for all of history.
Native Americans had been killing each other long before the Europeans arrived and Africans are killing each other as we speak.

Using euphemisms such as "the N-word" for "Nigger", "the F-word" for "Fuck", and "the C-word" for "Cunt" serves only to empower them, much as Jews are forbidden to speak the name of God. Giving these words such power, however, is counterproductive.

In contrast, look at words such as "sinister" and "gauche", which literally refer to left-handedness, but has lost all such meaning in normal usage. Hip-hop artists have begun separating the word "nigger" from its power, and it could lose all such power if the politically correct folks would simply let it die. I do not, generally speaking, use these words, but neither do I fear them. There are enough real fears to deal with that it makes no sense whatsoever to expend effort on such foolish ones.

Uh Oh!!! … NO SNEAKING-IN ANY REALITY HERE!!! … This is an all esoteric / exoteric psychobabble exercise: THERE IS NO PLACE FOR REALITIES, LIKE:
– WHERE, in the entire African continent, is the body of populous with the American living-standard and general education level of so-called “African-America” (a.k.a. Negros) latter-day “slaves”;
– WHERE, was ANY support, by “Brown Man’s” alleged victim’s, for the Blackest American Politician since Sen. Stephen A. Douglas, when that Presidential candidate CHOICE of this 78-y/o Georgia state born & raised WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant) – i.e. Ambassador, Dr. Alan Keyes – was running for President in 1996, 2000, 2004, and in 2008 when, IRONICALLY, he was LITERALLY JAILED FOR ATTEMPTING TO EXPOSE this present Kenyan White House Squatter, for being the Islamic-Communist miscreant that it has turned out to be in SUCH DELETERIOUS factual evidence!!!

Perhaps “Brown Man” would like to have seen this nefarious “Change” much earlier in our history, but then: So would all the other – whether wittingly or unwittingly – miscreant servants of the REAL, HAND-FULL of DESPOTIC ELITIST MAGGOTS, WHO HAVE CREATED AND SO INSTITUTED such Luciferian captivation of humanity, they ALL have served SO WELL to create!!!! … If so: Then, in the Hagios name of Jehoshua, I wish you well, Brown Man, as I seriously doubt that your “Status” is sufficient to provide you with any form of shelter within that infrastructure, your efforts here serve so well, when this elitist' tyranny is finalized!!!

I don’t know how we managed to get “India” involved here, but having had dealings with many of that nationality, while living in Thailand; I can assure you their skin tone variance is about the same as we of the “White” Variety, here in the Southern U.S., and since I’ve never found skin tone to have any relevance to knowledge or comprehension – else in re those elements in your retort here, I would be hard pressed to give you any but the lowest appraisal in such measure, so; no need to apologize for any offense, as I never take umbrage with the impaired, albeit:

Exactly HOW you may have ascertained that the “feelings” of “Yehushua” color Him “brown”, and/or “most people from India [ACTUALLY] feel that they are brown”, has me in awe!!! … Especially in consideration of your foregone question:

“What if everything was reversed and all but one president was a Negro…what if your people suffered the inhumane beast-like conditions that the Negro has suffered… what if almost all teachers, police, judges, actors, biblical art and all you've experience was from the so-called black people?”

This question is not even a good hypothetical: Can you say: The African Continent?!?!

Brown Man speaks indoctrination speak…the Democrats have done a masterful job of keeping blacks on the Democratic plantation. now themes are working on getting and keeping Hispanics on same plantation…for the record I dislike the POTUS 'white ualf'spolicies as much as those of his black half. Everything wrong with this man was known before he ran for office. The president of the black chamber of commerce said it's a mistake he will take to his grave…and when asked why he voted for Obama, with our a moments hesitation he said 'because he was black. I grieved for the black community then and I cried when Obama won. God willing we will survive this rogue administration hell bent on and just about finishing their transformation of America as promised…1/6 of the economy is in disarray, which is the reason the ACA came about: destroy 1/6 of our economy. Why people vote for the godless Democrats is beyond comprehension:see Detroit, IL, CA, NY. The picture of a bird sitting in a gilded cage with the door open comes to mind every time people scream racism. Have I been discriminated against as a Mexican? Yes…The last time I addressed the GOP Women's Group in a CA city…when i met one of the older members, she was surprised, asked if she had my last name correct, just like the Mexican cop who stopped me for making a right turn on red at the one street I know where you can't make a turn, in Chicago years ago, I smiled and said yes…she was so transparent in intimating I would not be speaking if she had known I was Mexican…I took pity on her old racist soul…but blacks do keep voting Democratic…look up Lyndon Johnson comment on why blacks would always vote Democratic…Think of a bird sitting in a gilded cage…with the door wide open…perfect pic of the black community.

Brown Man is not from your country and it is you who is thoroughly brainwashed. I can't vote for your liars, excuse me, politicians….nevertheless they are liars and destroyers of your country! Indians or people of India are truly brown people, not black people. In any case enjoy the screwing your politicians are giving you American…

At one point the term "top ni**er" was used of the corporate head, not particularly offensive at the time, but in time as there was usually ill intent by the use of various slang and perjorative terms there came to be severe censures on those terms. Even the "racist" site "Stormfront" does not permit various terms and blanks out letters. Unwanted words and terms do nothing for shedding light in most cases, however the historical background behind the use of a given word or term may give some clarity; unfortunately the PC police work hard to punish those who use or defend terms they find problematic. For example a mountain in Maine was forced to change it's name to "Big Moose" from "Big Squaw"! As a human animal of non-color, I want to be sensitive to other's concerns but not ridiculously so.

Brown Man, what is the difference between you and your distorted racist view of other human beings, the hatred in your heart and "white" racists? Justification I would say. Ok, you are justified in feeling pain, anger, etc. with the mind boggling, vicious inhumanity that you speak of. Ok, so now what? Most of the above comments already addressed the many different aspects of the deep issues being discussed here, so I won't belabor them again. Please see Robert's comment #1, I agree but more than that, I MUST say, How Dare You? You don't know me, what is in my heart or how I see other human beings, although you have made yourself very clear how much hate is in YOUR heart. Again, Justification and distorted at that. It's funny how, it would seem to me, that the same hate, distorted view of other human beings and justification for behavior is the ultimate common denominator among ALL Racists no matter what package God has wrapped them in. You have made a choice to project the very same poison into the world you rail against. Step back sir, this lady will have none of it, I pray that God will heal your heart and mind.

My hatred is only against that which is wicked…there are good people everywhere, however I have noted the lack of equality of certain minorities since coming to America. Mexicans, Hispanics, Orientals, Indians and others are poorly treated in America and 9 times out of 10 it is at the hands of a Caucasion person. On the other hand there are some very good people that are white, so I must say that I should not have used a statement that was all inclusive (if I said that right)… In any case, do the research and see who dropped the A-Bombs, who is behind the most killing and wars and occupying of other countries. Facts cannot be changed and I believe the term behind hating corruptions, racism, war, murder, kidnapping, stealing and other vile things — is righteous indignation. You will see that the Creator hates these things as well…

In re: “My hatred is only against that which is wicked…there are good people everywhere, however I have noted the lack of equality of certain minorities since coming to America.” … WONDERFUL!!!! … that you should need to leave your (purported) native India, and come to America in order to express “[Your] hatred … only against that which is wicked” and “[note] the lack of equality of certain minorities ….” !!!

THIS NOT ONLY SHOULD CONFIRM that India’s diabolically conceived, ritualistic-infanticide religious sects have been abolished, but so has the FOREVER INFAMOUS “CAST-SYSTEM,” with its diabolical RELEGATION of copious hundreds of millions, of the now BILLIONS of innocent Asian-Indian human populous, to a birth ~ death existence in abject depraved squalor – NOT for lack of innate ambition or other motivation on the part of the individual to rise above it, but – BY SIMPLE MASS PHYSICAL & MENTAL SUPPRESSION FROM THEIR EGO-SUPERIOR CAST-CLASSES!!! … ALAS, SUCH IS NOT THE CASE!!!

You people do many things well, but INTROSPECTION IS CERTAINLY NOT ONE OF THEM!!!!

3. Nicka
One that reminisces about old times simply to fulfill their lonely life, even though no one really cares. Enjoys the peen, pondering the winky, and other various activities. (see peppermint swirl or dirty pirate)

Oh, I get it, THIS is the "Nicka" that Hip Hop culture is using? I quit reading at that point. What WAS your point?

I think that the n word is from Dutch and German. If one translates negro into German you get n word. Dutch and German are both Germanic languages. The Dutch were the first owners of New York City. Maybe that is the source?

Brown man is not African American and most of you have some ridiculous assumptions. The ground you walk on belongs to the Native American and is stolen, no matter how anyone tries to justify this injustice. No one is putting personal blame on any individual, but a corrupt government and those running it at the time and now are responsible for many injustices. The masses of people in the past, present and future that persecute and perform injustices in the name of god and those that blindly follow after the corrupt bare responsibility as well!

But defend wickedness if you must… Is good bad and bad good? For the record "Indignation about Evil is Not Immoral!"

As much as We would Love it to be so, America is not past Slavery or Racism for that matter. The truth is the system itself is not set up to be equal for all. I do not use the n-word and find it demeaning. Tons of My family and friends use it, but not around Me. With that said, there is a difference when used by a Brown person of African decent as opposed to its use by any other color person. It just sounds and feels more wrong, than the word already is. Slavery has left inherited scars on America and much of the World. It is not reasonable to believe the people who suffered most from it, should all have let it go and moved on to massive success. We all know the playing field has never been equal for all who live in America. We all consider Ourselves free, but mentally and Spiritually We have a ways to go.

All one need see is the way our "media" attempts to "white wash" the truth of black on black and black on white crime and the new knockout "game" to know that racism is alive and well in this country. It's easy for those outside, such as the euphemistically mis-named "Brown Man", to point bent fingers at whole societies when their blindness by choice leaves them open to ignorantly raving about a past that not a single person alive had anything to do with. It is the Cool Aide of the self-deluded.

So, according to your "logic" is it okay to kill white folks and hang them from trees; because some did it over a hundred years ago to blacks? It seems to be a focal point for you. What about the whites who died during the Civil War? What about men such as Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis, who were anti-slavery but saw the Civil War as a conflict ensuring States rights over the Federal government?

THIS inability to let things go is the reason blacks as a subculture continue to drown in mediocrity and worse despite the myriad advances and opportunities afforded them simply BECAUSE THEY ARE BLACK. If they had really listened to Dr. King, whom they all seem to profess as "Savior", a title he would cringe at, they would be concerned at the degradation of their own society and take steps to advance through the improvement of the content of their character, rather than the color of their skin.

I was surprised, to say the least. when Quannel X, one of the local Houston race hustlers, suggested the participants and victims in the nation-wide "knockout game" all be treated the same and those hoodlums (all of whom are doing exactly what the thug Trayvon did) be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law as hate crimes. Not his usual approach, but the truth, nonetheless. But I guess even a broken clock is right twice a day… still waiting on his second.

Lastly, when will people like "Brown Man" stop taking up for others with whom they have no connection or experience? American Indians, or Native Americans if you wish, have succumbed to the same trap as black society has and we can all see the degradation that has occurred; the highest rates of poverty, alcoholism, etc., despite their preferred status. At some point guys like BM have to stop spouting crap and realize we all have to be responsible for ourselves.

BTW, my ancestry includes Cherokee… as well as viking, Scotch, French, Spanish and Welch. No sub-Saharan African that I am aware of. Racism goes both ways. You can't remain blind by choice (not ignorant) and profess to be an enlightened person. It just ain't logical.

I find the term "black" appropriate. Have you seen people off the boat from Africa? Their skin is so black that it has a soft blue cast to it. The reason blacks are now brown is that most blacks in the U.S. also have white ancestors. Who cares who your ancestors were or what they did? Personally, I feel no responsibility for what people did 300 years ago in the the U.S. My ancestors were still in Europe until 1900, but can I be held responsible for what they did years ago? Of course not!

Rather than considering what happened years ago, let's use our creative energies to focus on stopping the wholesale buying and selling of human traffic and slavery today.

Yes! Slavery is still a global problem. Greed, not color, seems to be the problem. Men and women, but the majority are women, are held against their will all over the world. Africans, Arabs, and Asians hold and sell their own people as slaves. South Americans sell their "virgin" relatives to the highest bidder. We all know that the Thai government turns their heads rather than stopping the traffic in the child porn industry.

I have American Indians in my own family. They DO NOT want to be called "Native Americans." That term was created by some ivy league professor who knew nothing about the culture. The Hopis, Navajo, Pueblo, Apache, and Zuni I know find it offensive to be called "native" anything. Their ancestors lost land, but most are happy to have their own "nation" within the U.S. and be governed by their own laws. They are also happy with their casinos and wish everyone would stop by and visit sometime. They are actually having the last laugh, while the so-called intellectuals whine about something that happened centuries ago.

If one studies a bit the universal history of man, one finds that whites were neither better or worse than red men, yellow men, brown men, or black men, all of which in their history were capable of ruthless slaughter, slavery of their own and other races, cruelty, etc., etc. Brown Man's dumping on whites as being the beasts of mankind is just plain stupid. By the way, why do we refer to behavior that is almost uniquely human as inhumane?

The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but THEY KNOW SO MUCH THAT ISN'T SO, Ronald Reagan
After reading "BrownMans" additional comments and the other "True believer" here, my conclusion is that what these issues always seem to come down to is not about skin color, there are many black (used that word on purpose), Americans who have very strong feelings, experiences, etc. about all of these realities. However, depending on which world view you are inclined to adopt: (life circumstances do not seem to play a role in this, it's more about how you are raised and what messages and values are instilled in you than it is about economics) either a leftist, America is the problem attitude or a right-leaning, America is an exceptional place with the founding principles being for Individual Liberty, the Opportunity for Self Actualization & Prosperity is really the difference in the perception of how we interpret and "feel" about the latest "racial" incident.
I specifically used the words black American because this discussion was clearly about the "n" word, and the racial issues surrounding it in our history and today's America. The different shades of people, different ethnicities, and the fact that this person who created the most response to this discussion other than the author, said he was not "African American", says to me that he is speaking about a completely different American offense as he understands it. Ideology trumps it all, he relates to the liberal black man as much as my white very liberal sister. They would have more in common in their world views with each other than they would with Clarence Thomas or Dr. Ben Carson, or a conservative American Indian. You are smug, arrogant and self-righteous, a liberal my friend. That is what this is about. I'll stick with Dr. Carson &Justice Thomas, you can freely choose whatever shade of liberal icon you wish to follow, but this ain't about color.

AMENDMENT XIII [1865]
Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

NOW: TO DE-LEGALESE this nefarious, even defacto ONLY, 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (the dejure 1819 13th being the one prohibiting BAR-card attorneys in government, but that’s another thread), albeit what Section 1. simply says:

Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction, EXCEPT AS A PUNISHMENT FOR CRIME WHEREOF THE PARTY SHALL HAVE BEEN DULY CONVICTED. … So “slavery [or] involuntary servitude” ARE PERFECTLY LEGAL & CONSTITUTIONALLY LAWFUL “AS A PUNISHMENT FOR CRIME WHEREOF THE PARTY SHALL HAVE BEEN DULY CONVICTED.” …

Notice “Section 2.”, which represents the FIRST ADDITIONAL, and THE 18th AGGREGATED POWER of THE CONGRESS, with which it may “legislate” regarding We the People, WITHOUT their Article I, Section 8 LIMITED POWERS! … Since the 1930’s ~ `40’s FDR “New Deal” Empire, all “crimes” are in commerce, SO:

!s it any wonder the Congress resorts to near mythology to INCLUDE EVERYTHING WITHIN THEIR INTERSTATE COMMERCE “Net”, and why, there are more people incarcerated in the UNITED STATES, than THE REST OF THE PLANET COMBINED!!! … BE AWARE: from a parking ticket ~ “Politically incorrect” verbiage: When you hire an attorney, or simply “Pay the FINE”, YOU HAVE CONFESSED TO A CRIME!

Wow, everyone defending their position and no one promoting a solution. My solution is to stop using race or religion as a description of any individual. I have used generic terms for a long time to refer to other people without using race. An attorney is an attorney no matter what race they are. It's the same for any worker or job. I make it a practice to say "there is this guy" or "girl I know". If you don't allow race to be a factor it isn't. There are plenty of descripive words to use when referring to people. I can talk about jerks, friends, poor, rich, professional, and everyday people without ever bring race into the conversation. The sooner we take race out of the conversation the better off we'll all be.

The point of using provocative words is to communicate to the listener how I feel about something. It may imply that the listener is expected to side with the speaker's position or vet out those who don't share such a strong opinion. Overuse of strong, provocative language is, in my opinion, counterproductive and merely reveals personality traits of the speaker. It attracts very little.
As for skin color, origins and land claims by indigenous people, I wasn't here 40,000 years ago. And, while I'm certain that much dishonest and ruthless, brutal behavior must have occured, I wasn't there for that either. However, I am responsible for my own misbehaviors yesterday and hopefully make every attempt to correct my thinking, makes amends for MY errors (not yours) and treat you better today. I do not intend to be bound by the mistakes (mine and my ancestors) of the past. That's called growth.

One of the greatest myths of the 21st century is that there is more than one race! Sorry to break your bubble folks but all this rhetoric about colour, words and so on is nothing more than verbal diarrhoea.

The elephant in the room is not the problem of colour or mass inequality which is self evident and all around us but what is the solution? How do we as a member of the human race go forth in our individual lives as "the example" we wish to see in the world. At the end of this journey called life as we will all find out none of this really matters.

So why don't we all stop justifying, explaining and rationalising our thoughts and behaviours and do what we feel is right because we will never please all of the people who come into our lives most of the time and quite frankly that's ok too!!

Enjoyed your article but would render a few comments. . First, while on a tour last month they stopped by the Cumberland County Threatre, Crossville, Tenn.where the play "Ragtime" was showing. The play consisted of a mixture of white and black performers (which were very, very good) The "N" word was used many times in the play without any regard for being called a raciest or fear of having the Threatre shut down. Second, Obama was not elected by a majority white population. He was elected by around 90% of the black and hispanic votes along with every democrate who voted. I do approve of the use of the "N" word but in many cases the stigmna of the word could apply to those of the white race also.

No one has to stay in a ghetto or on a reservation. It is a choice, rather than the choice between being a victim of imaginary foes or bettering one's self. The most blatant racism I have seen comes from blacks. Yes, (yawn) I know they aren't really black but it is convenient and easily understood.